What to Expect...

All LRS attorneys are private practicing attorneys

who charge their regular fees as determined at the
time of initial interview and screening. The client
and attorney will agree upon the scope and extent
of the relationship and the cost of services.

If, during your initial screening with LRS or after

further screening by a Limited Scope attorney it is
determined your case may be too complicated and

Limited Scope
not a good candidate for this type of legal service,
you may be referred to a “traditional full-service”
family law attorney.

Your visit with the lawyer… Representation in

When making an appointment with the lawyer's
office, ask what information to bring. Prepare ques- Family Law
tions you wish to discuss including your questions
about the cost involved. Legal fees should be dis-
cussed at the time of the first consultation--be sure
you understand how the lawyer's fees will be deter-
mined and when they need to be paid. Ask for the
fee agreement in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
CaII...

The Lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas can

assist with referrals to attorneys who have indi- Call
cated they will take limited scope cases. If you are
interested in more information and/or to determine
if you are a good candidate for Limited Scope Rep- 512-472-8303
resentation, contact the Lawyer Referral Service at toll free 866-303-8303
512-472-8303 during regular business hours
www.AustinLRS.org

This service is certified as a lawyer referral service as re-

quired by the State of Texas under Chapter 952,
Occupation Code. Certificate No. 9303
When you are willing and able to represent yourself
(pro se) in your family law matter but need advice
and guidance from a lawyer on a limited basis, Lim-
ited Scope Representation may work for you.
What is limited scope representation?
Limited scope representation is a way that an attor-
ney can help you with part of your case while you
do part of it yourself.
The attorney may help you with the following:
Reviewing documents and correspondence
Coaching you on possible outcome of a
particular situation
Assisting with negotiations
Helping prepare information in a format
acceptable to the courts
Educating you on court procedures
You and your attorney are working as a team. Fees
are determined by the tasks the attorney performs.
What is the benefit to me?
There may be things you can do yourself—such as
create your own documents, gather information,
and appear at hearings. The attorney can then as-
sist in presenting the information in a way that will
be useful in court. This will save you money on le-
gal fees and you are able to use the legal expertise
of the attorney.
How will I know what part I can do my-
self and when an attorney’s help is
needed?
It is important that you and your attorney agree on
how you will work together. It is also important that
you use one attorney who will become familiar with
your situation rather than pay different attorneys
each time you need help (you will have to pay each
one to relearn your case). Some areas of the law
are extremely technical (business interests, stocks,
pensions) so you will need assistance if you have
these issues.
Should I share every detail of informa-
tion with my attorney?
Yes. It is very important that you tell your attorney
about new issues that pop up after your case is
started so you know the legal consequences.
There may be issues that arise that you don’t real-
ize are important—your attorney can help you only
if you provide complete information. Tell your attor-
ney everything, even if you think it may not be im-
portant.
What if I decide I want the attorney to
handle the entire case?
If you decide it is too difficult to represent yourself,
you may want to hire the lawyer to represent you. If
there is an attorney representing the other side,
you may strongly consider hiring the attorney full
time (the other party having an attorney will put you
at a great disadvantage). Consider hiring the attor-
ney you have been working with—it will be less ex-
pensive for you to hire the attorney who already
knows your case.
What if my attorney and I don’t agree?
You and your attorney should work as a team—but
this is your case. While your attorney has much
more experience in legal matters, the ultimate deci-
sion is yours. If your attorney feels strongly about a
recommendation, you should listen carefully to their
reasons. If you decide not to follow your attorney’s
advice, you must be willing to accept the responsi-
bility and consequences for your decision.
When is my arrangement finished?
Since this is limited representation you should
clearly understand what part of your case your at-
torney is handling and exactly when that part is
completed. You will have an arrangement where
the attorney’s part is completed and he/she is no
longer working on your case with you.
Your attorney will provide you with a detailed
checklist and an agreement outlining what each of
you will be doing while working on your case.